Regulating-valve for air-brake systems.



J. C. LUNA. REGULATING VALVE FOR AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS. APPLIGATIOH FILED AUG. 7, 1909.

959,022. Pa en ed May 24, 19m.

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JOSEPH O. LUNA, 0F OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR 01'! ONE-HALF T0 ELMER JACOBSON, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

REGULATING-VALVE FOR AIR-BRAKE SYSTEMS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH C. LUNA, citizen of the United States, residing at Oak land, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Regulating- Valves for Air-Brake Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatically actuated regulating valves for air brake systems, and is particularly adapted for use in connection with the combined signaling and brake setting mechanism set forth in my application executed of even date herewith. In said application, a track circuit is employed which includes a semaphore signal and track bars, and a locomotive circuit including contact shoes, at regulating valve, and casing in communication with the air brake system, said valve being held under tension by a magnet to prevent the pressure of the said system being exhausted but adapted to be released when the said shoes and bars are in electrical contact to release the valve so that the pressure of the system is exhausted to apply the brakes and thereby prevent the locomotive passing said signal.

As aforesaid, the present invention is especially adapted for use in connection with said application and its principal object is to provide a novel type of regulating valve and valve casing by means of which the action of the valve will be entirely automatic and instantaneous, so that the brakes will be positively and firmly set to stop the train should an attempt be made to pass the semaphore signal when the said signal is at danger.

In carrying out the objects of the invention generally stated above, it will, of course, be readily understood that the essential features thereof are necessarily susceptible of changes in details and. structural arrangements, but one preferred and practical embodiment of the same is shown in the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the improved regulating valve. Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 22 thereof.

Referring to said drawings by numerals, 1 designates the casing of the regulating valve, which is closed at each end and provided with the packing boxes 2. A valve rod 3 extends through said casing and boxes,

Specification of Letters Patent.

AppIication filed August 7, 1909.

Patented May 24, 1910. Serial No. 511,768.

said rod being provided with an abutment flange 4; within said casing which contacts with the inner surface of the forward end of said casing to limit the movement of said rod in one direction. Another flange 5 is carried by the said rod adjacent its rear end and forms a seat for one end of a spring 6 coiled about said rod and whose other end is seated in an end recess 7 of a chamber 8 having a detachable threaded engagement with an annular flange 9 projecting from the rear end of said casing. A housing 10 is in threaded engagement with said chamber 8 and with said annular flange 9, completely incloses said chamber. Said housing 10 has an opening 11 formed through its outer end through which the rear end of the rod 3 slides.

The forward end of the rod 3 is provided with an annular groove 12, and the forward end of said casing 1 carries an outstanding bracket 13 arranged paralled with said rod and which supports a magnet 14, having circuit wires 15-16 of the locomotive circuit not shown. A piston 17 projects through said magnet, the upper projected end thereof having a spring 18 coiled about it, the tension of which normally holds the lower projected end portion of said rod in position so that its forked end 19 will engage with the annular groove 12 of the rod 3, and thereby prevent movement of said rod.

The valve casing 1 is provided with inlet ports 20-21, one being adjacent each end portion. A pipe 22 has a branch 23 in communication with inlet port 20, and another branch 2t in communication with port 21, said pipe 24 being provided with a reducing valve 25. The pipe 22 is in communication with the brake system through the main pipe 26. The casing 1 is also provided with exhaust ports 27-28 arranged in spaced relation between the inlet ports 2021 and the rod 3 is provided with two pistons 2930 which control the exhaust through the ports 2728.

In operation, assuming the pistons to be in the positions shown in Fig. 1, that is the piston 29 being between inlet port 20 and exhaust port 27, and the piston 30 being between the inlet port 21 and exhaust port 28, it will be seen that when the magnet is energized and releases the piston 17 from engagement with rod 3, the full pressure entering port 20 through pipe 23 will overcome the reduced pressure from pipe 24 and the resistance of spring 6, whereupon the rod 3 will slide longitudinally and uncover port 27 thereby exhausting the pressure from the system and causing the brakes to be automatically applied.

WVhat'I claim as my invention is 1. A regulating valve for air brake systems comprising a casing provided with inlet ports and exhaust ports, a rod slidable through said casing, pistons carried by said rod, a locking device for said rod, and means for automatically releasing said rod to permit the incoming pressure to slide said rod to open said exhaust ports.

2. A regulating valve for air brake systems comprising a casing and provided with inlet and exhaust ports, a rod extending through said casing, pistons on said rod controlling said exhaust ports, a spring coiled about one end of said rod and exerting a tension to hold said rod in an exhaust closing position, a lock for said rod, pressure admitting pipes communicating with said inlet ports, a reducing valve carried by one of said pipes, and means for automatically releasing said lock to permit the incoming pressure through one of said pipes to slide said rod against the pressure of the pipe provided With the reducing valve and said spring and thereby uncover said exhaust ports.

3. A regulating valve for air brake systems comprising a casing provided with inlet and exhaust ports, a chamber carried thereby, a housing for said chamber, a rod slidable through said casing, chamber and housing, pistons carried by said rod and controlling said exhaust ports, a spring in said chamber and coiled about said rod, a locking device for said rod, and means for automatically releasing said locking device.

4. A regulating valve for air brake systems comprising a casing provided with an inlet port adjacent each end and exhaust. ports between said inlet ports, a pressure pipe for each inlet port, a reducing valve for one of said inlet ports, a rod slidable through said casing, a pair of pistons carried by said rod and normally closing said exhaust ports, a locking device for said rod, and means for automatically releasing said locking device topermit the incoming pressure to move said pistons to open said exhaust ports.

5. A pressure regulating valve for air brake systems comprising a casing having an inlet port adjacent each end, spaced apart exhaust ports arranged between said inlet ports, a rod slidable in one direction in said casing, pistons on said rod for controlling and normally held in position to close said exhaust ports, and means for automatically releasing said pistons to permit the incoming pressure to slide the same and thereby open said exhaust ports.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH C. LUNA.

Witnesses:

H. C. Sormonnnn, F. P. SGI-IROEDER. 

